DVD is now only worthy of frisbie Status, Advice Appreciated

[SIMES]

Hello To All

Introduction

I'm somewhat green to the this game and have tried to perservere with no success so I'm now at the 'ask for help' stage. I have now been pulling my hair out for three days, and would welcome any pointers from the guru types. I read the stickies which say give as much information as possible so that is what I have done below.

Equipment

Sony DRX 510UL DVD rewriter
I downloaded TMPGenc & TMPGencDVD
My DVD player (one in my living room) is a Toshiba SD100e
I am using Sony DPW 120 DVD+RW Blanks
I use a PC with Windows XP


What I am trying to achieve

Simply to take avi and/or mpg files and make them playable on my domestic DVD Toshiba player.

I have checked the compatibility chart on this site and it says my Toshiba SD100e can read DVD+RW. I have not tried VCD or SVCD, as I would rather have proper Mpeg-2 DVD's at 720x576 (apparently better quality)

Here's what I have tried.

(After reading about 1 trillion different bits of advice on forums and FAQ's all over the net.

I have tried taking an avi file, then I....
a) Ran it through TMPEnc and 'converted it' to Mpeg-2 DVD format This took 5 hours!!!
b) Then I took that file and ran that through TMPGencDVD, this then 'converted' that singular mpeg file into a number of files with the extensions.ifo/vob etc. This took around 1.5 hrs . I think this is the part they call the 'rip'?
c) Then I used the TMPGenc DVD to 'burn' those files onto my blank Sony DPW 120 DVD+RW blank
This took around 30 minutes to create this 4Gb file

All of the above seemed to peform correctly, I recived no errors, however when I put the DVD into my domestic Toshiba SD100e, it simply says 'Disk Errror' on the LCD screen on the DVD player and 'Check Disk' appears on the Television. I should also say that the DVD plays fine on my PC with variious 'viewer's - 'Divx', REal One etc etc.

Also, just out of interest in case it was the 'burn' process which was failing with the built in burn option on TMPGencDVD, I took the same files (vob/ifo etc) and ran them through Verio v6, which also created the DVD with no errors but again did not work, same errors on my TV and domestic DVD unit.

So I have an number of questions that relate to the above process and also general questions I would like cleared up if possible.

1) Can anyone advise me as to where I may be going wrong and what I can do to put it right?

2) Is 'mpg' the same as 'mpeg', Are these terms used interchangably?

3) In order to bypass the 'avi-mpg/mpeg?' conversion I downloaded a free mpg/mpeg and tried to add it in TMPEncDVD but the application complained it had 'to long a GOP' and the wrong resolutin and a ton more issues. Is it the case that NO mpg will work because they need to be converted to the correct kind of mpg/mpeg first, or was I just unlucky and in some cases I can downloaded mpg/mpegs that could simply be put through stage (b) as shown above to elimanate the 5 hour 'conversion' process?

4) Could it be that the created DVD is ok, and that the DVD compatibility chart ion this site s incorrect and that my Toshiba SD100e is not DVD+RW compatible? I could try taking ther disk around to a friends and check that out on his player which is only a few days old, presumably his would support all formats?

5) What is DivX, is it just a flavour of AVI? In my explorer it says it's a Divx file, but also an AVI? ( This is not to important to me, just curious)

6) Are, VCD's and SVCD much worse in quality that Mpeg-2 DVD's? They seem to take up a LOT less space. The mpeg-2 DVD I made was 4GB when it was 'converted/ripped etc'.

7) Can you copy VCD's and SVCD to a blank DVD or should they only be used on blank CD's? If so does it matter which format DVD media you use? DVD-RW or +RW?

8) If you copy VCD/SVCD to a plain old CD, can a CD actually play in my Toshiba SD100e DVD player? If so it would seem to be a much easier option as the 5hour conversion would not be neccasary. But do I lose a lot of quality and sound etc?

9) Is there a better piece of software for trying to get avi/mpg to DVD format? Than the TMPEnc s/w I downloaded.

10) Is it me or is this whole DVD copying gig a total jungle, with very little 'right or wrong's just a lot of pain until you 'accidentally' hit on the right combination of products / software and blank media that works for you. I hope I am wrong, but I've dedicated almost 3 days to get to this stage, and if you think some of my questions are daft newbie stuff now you would be crying if I told you some of the stuff I thought would work 3 days ago.

These involve
a) Putting my copy of the Matrix into my PC and just using the 'copy disk' function in nero (oh , I laughed at that one after doing some reading)
b) Simply renaming my avi file to mpeg (well anything's worth a shot)

Anyway, I hope perhaps somebody can clear up what i am donig wrong and provide some feedback on the other issues.
Regards
Simon H

[The_Pioneer]

This is the second time I've written this reply - as I was previewing the last post, it just disappeared?!?

It's a real shame because my last post was really helpful but I'm too pissed off to write it all again in such detail. I'll try and be as helpful

1. Read 'Phils' comment about DVD+RWs in your machine (click 'DVD Players', search for your model then scroll down'). If you cant change compatibility settings easily with your burn software, try downloading a demo version of NERO (6+).

3. The software you are using probably requires 100% DVD compliance. As such any mpg you download will need to have been encoded within these parameters.

4. The sony media may not be compatible. Different brands vary hugely in compatibility. Try a Memorex DVD+RW like Phil.

5. DivX is one of many codec used to encode an .avi file. Check the glossary for an explanation.

6. XSVCD (SVCD encoded under non-standard parameters) can be reasonable but not really comparable to DVD at its best.

7. Either CD or DVD. Regarding the media - as long as its compatible, it wont make a difference.

8. Yes but yes, you will lose quality.

9. You can always check the 'how-to' guides on this site. If you see a method that seems simpler, you may be able to try out the software used via a demo.

10. Once you've found a compatible media, I think you'll find yourself making DVDs with few problems.


This was such a detailed post 5 minutes ago - 5 times longer than this, with quotes to make it readable without reference to the original post. Then it disappeared unlike anything thats ever crashed/hung on my PC before. Everything was explained in lots of detail. I thought Opera was an all-round Internet Explorer beater, guess not

[SIMES]

Hi

I hope if you get some time, you may re-write your original post.. I had that exact same thing happen to me on a training forum, from that day on I write long posts in notepad then paste them in.. anyway

1) Phils comment? Where is Phils comment? Who is Phil?
'Click' DVD players? Where is this in TMPGenc , on a website etc? Re Nero 6, I already have it , see last paragraph before the list of questions

3. Cool, ok, but next question are you saying not ALL software would require this compliance? If so which should I be using?

4 The sony disks are not compatible with my dvd player OR not compatible with the software, burn/rip process? I bought the most expensive sony dvd+rw because I have a sony dvd rw player.

5. Codec? No matter, I think I get the gist of what you mean,

6. NOt tried XSVCD, how you do that, in Nero6 it only offers me VCD and SVCD, (and SVCD only appeared after I downloaded a load of other crap, plugs ins and stuff which I now forget the names of

7. Cool, ok, that one was confusing me, so VCD, SVCD and XVCD all can go on either CD's or DVD's , but presumably mpeg 2 DVD's only on DVD disks, cos of size if nothing else I presume.

9. The how to guides on this site were how I managed to get this far, I followed them for the TMPEGenc and TMPGenc DVD stuff, that bit worked fine, at least I think it did, it's just getting it to play in my tosh

10. Ok, I hope so, I can try more media, but I really paid for the very best ones in the shop, like £4.00 per flippen DVD.

Hopefully some others can shed some more light and feedback.

Thanks for your help anyway. ps Didnt' answer point (2) which I figured would be a simple one.

[FOO]

I should also say that the DVD plays fine on my PC with variious 'viewer's - 'Divx', REal One etc

Unless things have changed lately those players don't know how to play
a DVD. They might be able to play a VOB but that doesn't test your
DVD for correct authoring.

You should try to play it with WinDVD or something like that. Something
that can check the whole thing - menus etc.
This is assuming it's not media incompatibility.

One way to test for compatibility is to find a commercial DVD5
and get DVDDecryptor to copy it to the suspect media. That eliminates
a lot of processing steps

[tompika]

Have you tried DVD-RW?
Your player supports it
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers.php?DVDnameid=1110&Search=Search&#comment


Can you post a media info of that DVD+RW movie you burned?
www.dvdinfopro.com

[SIMES]

Have you tried DVD-RW?
Your player supports it
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers.php?DVDnameid=1110&Search=Search&#comment


Can you post a media info of that DVD+RW movie you burned?
www.dvdinfopro.com

Hi

My player is the SD100e, not the 110e

The reason I didn't opt for -RW is that the compatibility chart on this site, that you linked to above specifically says -RW does NOT work on the SD100e but that +RW does.

Re a 'media info', I would love to post it, only
a) What is it?
b) Where it it?

Simon

[SIMES]

I should also say that the DVD plays fine on my PC with variious 'viewer's - 'Divx', REal One etc

Unless things have changed lately those players don't know how to play
a DVD. They might be able to play a VOB but that doesn't test your
DVD for correct authoring.

You should try to play it with WinDVD or something like that. Something
that can check the whole thing - menus etc.
This is assuming it's not media incompatibility.



One way to test for compatibility is to find a commercial DVD5
and get DVDDecryptor to copy it to the suspect media. That eliminates
a lot of processing steps

Hi, well I downloaded 'power DVD' and the DVD mpeg-2 plays fine in it, so I am presuming this is not a DVD problem, but it was a good idea because now I can at least assume there is nothing wrong with the actual DVD itself or the process used to create it (despite being bloody lengthy)



*** Err, what is a commercial DVD5?

[SIMES]

4. The sony media may not be compatible. Different brands vary hugely in compatibility. Try a Memorex DVD+RW like Phil.


Just a quick addition to my responce to you , I went out and bought a box of Memorex DVD+RW 4.7, part no 864610-05, and I get exactly the same situation.

[ricky1756]

try i different burning software, i cant play dvds on my phillips dvd player burned with the tmpenc burner

[SIMES]

test post, pls ignore

[SIMES]

try i different burning software, i cant play dvds on my phillips dvd player burned with the tmpenc burner

I did, if you take a look at my original post.
I used tmpegenc first, then when that did not work I used nero .

I guess I could try yet another burning s.w but the DVD does seem to be working using power dvd.

[SIMES]

Have you tried DVD-RW?
Your player supports it
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers.php?DVDnameid=1110&Search=Search&#comment


Can you post a media info of that DVD+RW movie you burned?
www.dvdinfopro.com

ok Thanks for the PM, I actually didn't notice the link to infopro, as my mind told me it was a sig file URL, my bad, apologies

Ok,here is the info

Media Information
Disc Regions are 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
Media code/Manufacturer ID RICOHJPNW01
Format Type UDF 1.02
Volume Name MY_DISC
Application id
Implementation id AHEAD Nero
Recording Date/Time (mm/dd/yyyy) 9/21/2003 9:22:01
Format Capacity 4.38GB(4.70GB)
Free Blocks 0
Book Type DVD+RW
Media Type DVD+RW
Media Id Code Speed 2.4x 3324KBps
Available Write Descriptor CLV 2.4x 3324KBps
BG Format Status Completed
Data area starting sector 30000h
Data area end sector 23053Fh
Linear Density 0.267um/bit
Track Density 0.74um/track
Number of Layers 1

[tompika]

Info looks OK

Ever burned a DVD+RW that actually played in the Toshiba?

If you got a movie on DVDR, rip it as ISO with DVD Decrypter then burn it to the DVD+RW (using the same tool DVD Decrypter)

Lets see if the Toshiba really plays DVD+RW

[SIMES]

Info looks OK

Ever burned a DVD+RW that actually played in the Toshiba?

If you got a movie on DVDR, rip it as ISO with DVD Decrypter then burn it to the DVD+RW (using the same tool DVD Decrypter)

Lets see if the Toshiba really plays DVD+RW

No, never got it working, as I say started three days ago learning all about the art of copying dvd's and still have no joy. So far nothing is working, however I have just read something interesting that some players need the 'compatibility bitsetting' changed to DVD-ROM from DVD+RW so I am now downloading a pogram called bitsetter to trial this.

5minutes later...
Oh well this is typical, Bitsetter works for all drives apart from Sony ones!!!!!
Arrgh

I quote.....

'You have either selected the wrong drive or an incompatible one (Sony Dirves) or you are using a first generation drive.


Well, that's about par for the course with my luck...

[SIMES]

Info looks OK

Ever burned a DVD+RW that actually played in the Toshiba?

If you got a movie on DVDR, rip it as ISO with DVD Decrypter then burn it to the DVD+RW (using the same tool DVD Decrypter)

Lets see if the Toshiba really plays DVD+RW

Re your second point...
What format is DVDr? , how do I achieve it, I only had DVD RW disks? Does that make sence?

Secondly when you say 'Rip it' with ISO, what exactly is 'ISO' is that like yet another format like mpeg2 etc ?

I am downloading this dvdencrypter now, but is it not really the same as that TMPGEnc?

[SIMES]

Info looks OK

Ever burned a DVD+RW that actually played in the Toshiba?

If you got a movie on DVDR, rip it as ISO with DVD Decrypter then burn it to the DVD+RW (using the same tool DVD Decrypter)

Lets see if the Toshiba really plays DVD+RW

Ok couple of things

1) I downloaded the s/w and went to the page you linked to . The best / most sutiable idiots guide to a 'complete rip with Dvddecrypter' was this link

http://www.dvdshrink.info/dvd-decrypter.php
Which is done brilliantly, but the very first thing it shows is to select 'FILE' from the menu and not 'ISO'

Secondly I went to select ISO (based on your post) and then it says ISO , Read or Write, do I want ISO Write as I will hopefully be 'writing' this info to the DVD?

So many terms, and only approx another 60 years of my life left to understand them..

[tompika]

I mean DVDR as (DVD-R or DVD+R) DVD Recordable.

If you got a movie on a DVD-R or DVD+R.

DVD Decrypter

1. Build an ISO image: Mode - ISO - Read ---> click on DVD icon

2. Burn the ISO: Mode - ISO - Write - Select souce file ( the ISO image you built) ----> click on DVD icon

[SIMES]

I mean DVDR as (DVD-R or DVD+R) DVD Recordable.

If you got a movie on a DVD-R or DVD+R.

DVD Decrypter

1. Build an ISO image: Mode - ISO - Read ---> click on DVD icon

2. Burn the ISO: Mode - ISO - Write - Select souce file ( the ISO image you built) ----> click on DVD icon

Hi

No, I only have the movie burnt onto a DVD+RW as opposed to a DVD+R

I don't actually have any plain +R or -R blanks here right now

[SIMES]

I mean DVDR as (DVD-R or DVD+R) DVD Recordable.

If you got a movie on a DVD-R or DVD+R.

DVD Decrypter

1. Build an ISO image: Mode - ISO - Read ---> click on DVD icon

2. Burn the ISO: Mode - ISO - Write - Select souce file ( the ISO image you built) ----> click on DVD icon

Ok, I am going to take a wild guess and presume it does not matter whether I am using a +R or a +RW DVD

So I am doing what you suggested anyway and 'building the ISO' image now

ps Newbie stuff,when you say 'RIP' is that just the bit where you take like the AVI file and 'convert it' to the mpeg2 format, or is the 'RIP' bit when you take that converted mpeg and make it into all those seperate files like VOB,IFO's etc?

Equally is 'burn' just the bit when you take the final VOB,IFO's and 'copy' it onto the blank DVD?

30 minutes later...

Have now done the 'Read' bit, and have now inserted a brand new blank memorex dvd and am now 'writing' the 'ISO' to it

Next status report around 1 hour from look of it
ps What is 'ISO' is it like the most basic version of a dvd, just so you can test with it?

[Gees]

Not trying to be cheeky but...........

https://www.videohelp.com/glossary

may help you out a lot in these early stages. Has answers to most of your questions right there.

:c)

[SIMES]

Not trying to be cheeky but...........

https://www.videohelp.com/glossary

may help you out a lot in these early stages. Has answers to most of your questions right there.

:c)

Good page thanks, although the description of ISO doesn't seem to really relate to what we are doing, but certainly helpful for some of the other terms / jargon

Thanks

[Gees]

You're welcome. I realise a lot of people miss seeing all the resources when posting. There's a ton of good reading/learning material there. :c)

re: ISO definition - just substitute "DVD" where it references "CD" - just means "disc"

[tompika]

I hope you ripped a DVDR (DVD+R or DVD-R) movie that actually played in a standalone player.

[Michelle]

I hope you ripped a DVDR (DVD+R or DVD-R) movie that actually played in a standalone player.

That's what I was thinking. I think there is some confusion about this point.

[tompika]

I'm trying to follow this. Since SIMES has been unable to burn a DVD that works, I assume you mean trying a DVD-R or DVD+R that someone else burned that works.

I'm trying to find out if a well-authored DVDR burned on a DVD+RW plays in that damn Toshiba

He's trying to play some AVI-converted thing burned on a DVD+RW when he doesn't even know if the player actually compatible with that DVD+RW

[SIMES]

I hope you ripped a DVDR (DVD+R or DVD-R) movie that actually played in a standalone player.

Err, no I did not. I had presumed the ISO format was some kind of basic format that worked in all players and this was to test whether the TOshiba would work under those circumstances.

All I did was to take the DVD with the already 'created' movie on it.

Sigh... When I say 'newbie' I really mean 'newbie' , you can't take anything for granted irrelvant of how obvious it may seem to you.

I still don't exactly understand what you mean, because if I had a DVD that actually worked in the player I would have achieved what I clearly can not achieve or do you mean like an actual proper DVD I purchased from like Blockbusters or something?

Anway, a friend of mine just spent £350 on an all singing all dancing Phillips DVD player that supposedly suppports every format under the sun, so I will take my DVD's over to his house bung them in his player and see what happens.

That should form a decisive argument as to whether this is the burn and rip process that is at fault or the Toshiba unit.

[Gees]

Before you do, could you look at what's on the DVD? If you "explore" it, do you see a folder called "Video_TS" that includes files ending in .vob .ifo, .bup, and another folder "Audio_TS", that's empty?

That's what you'd find in any you'd purchase or rent and what you'll need to end up with for a proper, working backup.

Maybe this link would help as it has screen shots that show the files & structure. https://www.videohelp.com/forum/userguides/141024.php

[tompika]

OK

To find out whether the Toshiba supports the rewritable plus media you need to get a disc that is DVD compliant and fits on a DVD+RW.
It can be a DVD5 (single-layer hollywood movie) or a DVDRecordable (DVD+R or a DVD-R) that was burned by someone else and actually plays in standalone players.

You get one, you rip it as ISO then burn that ISO with DVDDecrypter to a DVD+RW.

[SIMES]

OK

To find out whether the Toshiba supports the rewritable plus media you need to get a disc that is DVD compliant and fits on a DVD+RW.
It can be a DVD5 (single-layer hollywood movie) or a DVDRecordable (DVD+R or a DVD-R) that was burned by someone else and actually plays in standalone players.

You get one, you rip it as ISO then burn that ISO with DVDDecrypter to a DVD+RW.

Hi

Pretty much a moot point now. I took the multiple DVD+RW, I had created to a friends house, put them in his new Phillips DVD player and they all played immediately, perfect picture and sound - no problems.

Just my Toshiba clearly does not like the format despite what the compatibility chart says.

Now for some retail therapy - Which DVD player to buy, might as well be a Recorder now seeing as they have dropped so much.

Fun and games, at least I know it's not what I am doing that was causing the problem.

Thanks for your help

[tompika]

Its time for you to try what I advised in my first post.
Buy a DVD-RW to see if it works.

I know the players comments say it won't work but they also said DVD+RW would.